Friday, September 20, 2019

For Monday: The Odyssey, Books 16-19


Note: it's okay if you don't read completely through Book 19, but get as close as you can. I want to try to finish the book by Wednesday or Friday at the latest. 

Answer TWO of the following:

Q1: Why does Odysseus decide to reveal himself to Telemachus in Book 16, after carefully hiding his identity from everyone else? Is it simply because Athena commands him to (though she earlier said not to show himself to anyone in his family!). Is this a heavenly command--or a sudden inspiration? 

Q2: One of the most touching scenes in the book occurs in Book 17, when Odysseus encounters his old dog, Argus, who has seen better days. The poem spends far more time on this scene than the story might require. Why do you think this is? Why is this episode important, and how might it reflect larger events in the story? 

Q3: These books show the Suitors in much greater relief than we've seen so far in the book. How does the poet condemn their actions in these books, and what, specifically, seems to be their greatest 'sin'? How aware are they of transgressing social laws and the favor of the gods? 

Q4: Odysseus fears disloyalty above all else, and his disguise is largely undertaken to ferret out the true sentiments of his household (kind of like an episode of "Undercover Boss"--as Bryce pointed out in his comments!). How does he test the various people in his household, including his own wife? What does he want them to say or act to prove virtuous? Does he seem to take into account the context of their situation? 

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